This year's
festival will screen a total of 9 Japanese films covering
a wide spectrum of Japanese cinematic experience.
Beat
Kids ビートキッズ
New
Release!
This
is a charming coming-of-age film, starring some of Japan’s
newest musical talent
Alongside his father, Eiji grew up with the local festival
drumming beat pulsing through his veins. Once the festival
hero, his eccentric father has since slipped into disrepute,
spending his days gambling and drinking. To make matters
worse, Eiji’s frail mother is expecting a child. At
his new high school, Eiji reluctantly joins the marching
band, lead by the formidable Nanao. Eiji looks up to
Nanao, who possesses a freakish musical talent and despite
Nanao’s initial frostiness, the two forge a special
friendship based on a shared passion for music. Just
when Eiji feels like he has found a true friend, Nanao
breaks the news that she will leave for New York to
follow her dreams of becoming a professional musician...
This is a charming film with upbeat musical performances
from some of Japan’s up-and-coming stars.
(Screening in Sydney only) Rating: 18+ | Director: Toshi
Shioya | 2004 | Drama/Youth | 115 minutes | Japanese
with English subtitles
GO
Winner of 30 awards and 5 nominations in Japan and
overseas
Based on the best-selling novel by Kazuki Kaneshiro,
this groundbreaking film swept the Japanese Academy
Awards upon its release in Japan. The film uncovered
the talented Yosuke Kubozuka (Ping Pong) who
received numerous awards for his portrayal of Japanese-born
Korean teenager, Sugihara. On the surface Sugihara seems
like any other Japanese teenager, but his Korean heritage
means that he constantly grapples with issues of identity
and acceptance in conformist Japan. When Sugihara falls
in love with an unconventional Japanese girl called
Sakurai, he is faced with the decision to reveal his
Korean identity...even though it may mean the end of
their relationship.
This is gutsy, heart-wrenching drama which will keep
audiences enthralled to the end.
(Screening at all venues) Rating: MA 15+ | Director:
Isao Yukisada | 2001 | Drama/Youth/Romance | 122 minutes
| Japanese with English subtitles
Hidden
Blade 隠し剣 鬼の爪
Japanese
Academy Award Winner for Best Art Direction
From
the director of the Oscar-nominated Twilight Samurai
comes yet another samurai masterpiece. This period
drama captures the mood of the dying days of feudal Japan
when the demise of the samurai class is imminent. At the
heart of this tale is a small town samurai, Munezo, a
quiet and honourable man. When longtime friend, and fellow
clansman Yaichiro escapes after being arrested for political
intrigue, Munezo is ordered to kill him. Unable to avoid
the assignment, Munezo visits his old teacher and samurai
master, Kansai Toda, for advice. The film also makes reference
to the restrictive caste system at the time, which is
played out in the relationship between Munezo and his
beautiful maid Kie...
Yamada once again proves his mastery of this genre in
this beautifully introspective and understated film.
Hidden
Blade will screen as the opening film at the exclusive
Gala Opening on 28 November. It will screen for the
general public twice during the Festival.
(Screening
in Sydney only - Opening film) Rating:
MA 15+ | Director: Yoji Yamada | 2005 | Historical/Romance/Drama
| 131 minutes | Japanese with English subtitles
Hinokio ヒノキオ
New
Release!
Visual
Effects Director of Final Fantasy:The Spirits
Within
After
an accident in which his mother dies, Satoru stops going
to school, spending his days confined to his room. His
sole link with the outside world is through a robot
named Hinokio, which Satoru manipulates via his computer.
Hinokio becomes Satoru’s eyes and ears, taking him on
an amazing life-changing journey. Through Hinokio, Satoru
makes friends and even falls in love for the first time.
This is a touching coming-of-age drama, which will blow
audiences away with its stunning visual effects.
(Screening in Sydney only) Rating: PG (Daytime screening
available) | Director: Takahiko Akiyama | 2005 | Drama/Fantasy
| 111 minutes | Japanese with English subtitles
Horumaika
is an amazing story about courage and determination
against all odds
Komatsugura is a tiny village in the mountains. For
hundreds of years, the villagers were virtually cut
off from the outside world; many dying as a result of
this isolation. In 1933, the villagers decided to dig
their own tunnel beneath the mountain and after 16 years
of digging for almost one kilometre, they completed
the longest hand-dug tunnel in Japan. For the next fifty
years, the Nakayama Tunnel would be their precious lifeline
to the outside world...
This amazing story is recorded in Horumaika
(Let’s Dig!). Tragically, in 2004, the year
after the film was made, a devastating earthquake hit
the area, severely damaging Komatsugura village. The
2000 people airlifted at the time, have still not been
able to return to their homes. In response to this disaster,
the staff of Horumaika established an earthquake
rescue fund, raising money through charity screenings
around Japan.
Join us for the international premiere of Horumaika,
featuring a Q&A session with special guests, including
the film’s director and producer, and village mayor
at the time of the disaster.
*All
proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to the Horumaika
Rescue Fund*
(Screening
in Sydney only) Rating: 18+ | Director: Shinichi Hashimoto
| 2003 | Documentary | 83 minutes | Japanese with English
subtitles
Laputa
Castle in the Sky 天空の城ラピュタ
"Animation
is excellent...the combination of high-tech and old-fashioned
machinery (airships powered with hundreds of propellers)
is charming, and the story contains a good deal of wit
and compassion" - Variety
From
a name synonymous with anime, Hayao Miyazaki, comes
this engaging animated classic. Pazu dreams of a mythical
floating island in the sky called Laputa, when Sheeta
mysteriously floats down from the sky aided by a powerful
crystal. Pursued by pirates and government agents, they
embark on a fantastic quest to uncover the secrets of
Laputa.
(Screening
in Perth, Canberra, Melbourne only) Rating: G
Director: Miyazaki Hayao | 1986 | Animation | 124 minutes
| Japanese with English subtitles
Not
Yet まあだだよ
Multi-Japanese
Academy Award Winner
Not
Yet is the final film by legendary director, Akira
Kurosawa (The Seven Samurai). Based on the
life of author and professor Hyakken Uchida, the film
explores the special relationship between a much-loved
professor and his devoted students. After his retirement,
the students look after the professor, continuing to
visit him every year on his birthday. The film title
refers to a repeated scene in the film where the students
tease the professor on his birthday by asking “Maada
kai? (Are you ready to go to the next world?)”
to which he cheerfully responds “Maadadayo (No,
not yet!)”.
Kurosawa’s final film is a sentimental, meditative piece
about life and death.
(Screening
at all venues) Rating: PG | Director: Akira Kurosawa
| 1993 | Drama | 134 minutes | Japanese with English
subtitles
Ping
Pong Bath Station 卓球温泉
Highly
recommended for people who are not afraid to grin like
idiots while watching a film
In
this quirky comedy, Sonoko, an unappreciated housewife,
runs away from home on the advice of a young radio talkback
host with feminist ideals. Sonoko is drawn to the hot
springs resort town where she and her husband honeymooned.
As fate would have it, the town is also the hometown
of the talkback host, Kanae. In her new surrounds, Sonoko
decides to put her energy into reviving the rundown
town. When she stumbles upon the old ping-pong hall
which she once played in, she contrives a plan to save
the town. The film, which culminates in a major ping-pong
tournament, follows the central characters in their
journeys of self-discovery.
This film has many appealing and heart-warming moments
which will leave audiences grinning!
Rating:
18+ | Director: Gen Yamakawa | 1998 | Comedy | 110 minutes
| Japanese with English subtitles
CLOSING
FILM
Rampo
Noir 乱歩地獄
New
Release!
Japanese
abstract to the extreme - not for the faint hearted
This
is an eclectic compilation of four stylistically different
films, based on the masterpieces of great Japanese mystery
writer, Edogawa Rampo (a pseudonym based on Edgar Allan
Poe). These dark narratives, entitled Mars’ Canal,
Mirror Hell, Caterpillar and Crawling
Bug, are mysterious forays into grotesque and erotic
fantasy worlds. The film features a talented line-up,
including popular art house actor, Tadanobu Asano, and
Ryuhei Matsuda.
This is a decadent, ambitious art film which is definitely
not for the squeamish or faint-hearted.
*Contains scenes that may disturb some viewers. (Screening
in Sydney only - Closing film) Rating:
18+ | Directors: Suguru Takeuchi, Akio Jisoji, Hisayasu
Sato, Atsushi Kaneko | 2005 | Drama/Thriller | 135 minutes
| Japanese with English subtitles
Films which
are not classified are restricted to persons 18 years and over.
This relates to the censorship requirements of holding a Film
Festival, as set by the Office of Film and Literature Classification
and is not necessarily a reflection of the content of the films
themselves.
Sydney
tickets on sale now.
See Sydney
ticketing for more information...
Catch
the special daytime screening of Hinokio
on Friday 2 Dec at 10 am, featuring a special
guest appearance by two of the film’s 3D animators.
Includes exclusive footage, storyboards and CG models
from the film as well as Q&A time. Great opportunity
for students of Japanese and animation fans alike!
Special
Charity Event
Documentary filmmaker, Mayu Kanamori (Chika),
will host a special charity event, featuring the inspiring
documentary Horumaika.
Special guests at this international premiere will include
Horumaika director and producer as well as former
village mayor.
All proceeds from the screening will go to the Horumaika
Rescue Fund.
Alongside his father, Eiji grew up with the local festival
drumming beat pulsing through his veins. Once the festival
hero, his eccentric father has since slipped into disrepute,
spending his days gambling and drinking. To make matters
worse, Eiji’s frail mother is expecting a child. At
his new high school, Eiji reluctantly joins the marching
band, lead by the formidable Nanao. Eiji looks up to
Nanao, who possesses a freakish musical talent and despite
Nanao’s initial frostiness, the two forge a special
friendship based on a shared passion for music. Just
when Eiji feels like he has found a true friend, Nanao
breaks the news that she will leave for New York to
follow her dreams of becoming a professional musician...
Based on the best-selling novel by Kazuki Kaneshiro,
this groundbreaking film swept the Japanese Academy
Awards upon its release in Japan. The film uncovered
the talented Yosuke Kubozuka (Ping Pong) who
received numerous awards for his portrayal of Japanese-born
Korean teenager, Sugihara. On the surface Sugihara seems
like any other Japanese teenager, but his Korean heritage
means that he constantly grapples with issues of identity
and acceptance in conformist Japan. When Sugihara falls
in love with an unconventional Japanese girl called
Sakurai, he is faced with the decision to reveal his
Korean identity...even though it may mean the end of
their relationship. 
From
the director of the Oscar-nominated Twilight Samurai
comes yet another samurai masterpiece. This period
drama captures the mood of the dying days of feudal Japan
when the demise of the samurai class is imminent. At the
heart of this tale is a small town samurai, Munezo, a
quiet and honourable man. When longtime friend, and fellow
clansman Yaichiro escapes after being arrested for political
intrigue, Munezo is ordered to kill him. Unable to avoid
the assignment, Munezo visits his old teacher and samurai
master, Kansai Toda, for advice. The film also makes reference
to the restrictive caste system at the time, which is
played out in the relationship between Munezo and his
beautiful maid Kie... 
After
an accident in which his mother dies, Satoru stops going
to school, spending his days confined to his room. His
sole link with the outside world is through a robot
named Hinokio, which Satoru manipulates via his computer.
Hinokio becomes Satoru’s eyes and ears, taking him on
an amazing life-changing journey. Through Hinokio, Satoru
makes friends and even falls in love for the first time.
Komatsugura is a tiny village in the mountains. For
hundreds of years, the villagers were virtually cut
off from the outside world; many dying as a result of
this isolation. In 1933, the villagers decided to dig
their own tunnel beneath the mountain and after 16 years
of digging for almost one kilometre, they completed
the longest hand-dug tunnel in Japan. For the next fifty
years, the Nakayama Tunnel would be their precious lifeline
to the outside world...
From
a name synonymous with anime, Hayao Miyazaki, comes
this engaging animated classic. Pazu dreams of a mythical
floating island in the sky called Laputa, when Sheeta
mysteriously floats down from the sky aided by a powerful
crystal. Pursued by pirates and government agents, they
embark on a fantastic quest to uncover the secrets of
Laputa. 
Not
Yet is the final film by legendary director, Akira
Kurosawa (The Seven Samurai). Based on the
life of author and professor Hyakken Uchida, the film
explores the special relationship between a much-loved
professor and his devoted students. After his retirement,
the students look after the professor, continuing to
visit him every year on his birthday. The film title
refers to a repeated scene in the film where the students
tease the professor on his birthday by asking “Maada
kai? (Are you ready to go to the next world?)”
to which he cheerfully responds “Maadadayo (No,
not yet!)”. 
In
this quirky comedy, Sonoko, an unappreciated housewife,
runs away from home on the advice of a young radio talkback
host with feminist ideals. Sonoko is drawn to the hot
springs resort town where she and her husband honeymooned.
As fate would have it, the town is also the hometown
of the talkback host, Kanae. In her new surrounds, Sonoko
decides to put her energy into reviving the rundown
town. When she stumbles upon the old ping-pong hall
which she once played in, she contrives a plan to save
the town. The film, which culminates in a major ping-pong
tournament, follows the central characters in their
journeys of self-discovery.
This
is an eclectic compilation of four stylistically different
films, based on the masterpieces of great Japanese mystery
writer, Edogawa Rampo (a pseudonym based on Edgar Allan
Poe). These dark narratives, entitled Mars’ Canal,
Mirror Hell, Caterpillar and Crawling
Bug, are mysterious forays into grotesque and erotic
fantasy worlds. The film features a talented line-up,
including popular art house actor, Tadanobu Asano, and
Ryuhei Matsuda. 
